Photo: Cropix

“Together, ACI and GITONE Kvarner are creating a project that has never been seen in Croatia before – a luxury marina with plenty of facilities in a city centre .”

Mr Johannes Böck is a member of the management boards of the GITONE Kvarner company and of Liburnia Riviera Hotels. The presentation of the ACI Marina Rijeka project was an ideal occasion to talk to him about the new vision of Rijeka, megayachting, future plans and the secret of Lürssen’s success.

How did the partnership with ACI come about?

The joint company ACI – GITONE was established for the purpose of constructing and managing the ACI Marina Rijeka port of nautical tourism. The partnership was established in order for both companies to offer the best conditions and best quality, each in its domain, in order to obtain a concession on maritime property for the purpose of the construction and commercial use of the special purpose port – port of nautical tourism of Porto Baroš.

What qualities does GITONE bring to the partnership and what does ACI offer?

The values that GITONE Kvarner brings are certainly innovation, investment in human resources and the fusion of traditional understanding of business and new technologies. Our company wants to contribute to creating a desirable regional and international destination, ideal for nautical, health and congress tourism, as well as for rest and relaxation. ACI, as the largest marina chain in the Mediterranean and the leader in nautical tourism in Croatia, brings its know-how and tradition, almost four decades long. Together, these two worlds are creating a project that has never been seen in Croatia before – a luxury marina with plenty of facilities in a city centre.

ACI Marina Rijeka will be the largest investment in nautical tourism in Croatia, which will be providing services of the highest quality. Can you expand on that?

It is a project of constructing a nautical tourism port in Croatia that will help develop a completely new image of Rijeka and attract yachts and megayachts from all over the world, making the destination much more attractive. The entire economy will benefit greatly from an increase in tourism revenues, and, economically, this investment will have the highest impact on Rijeka. Its position is extremely advantageous in terms of geography and transport routes; Rijeka is only a few hours away by car from most target markets and is trying to reposition its image from a stopover city, where tourists stay briefly, in passing, to a modern urban tourist centre. The goal is for ACI Marina Rijeka to be an exclusive marina with the highest 5-anchor rating. A luxury marina in the city centre will put Rijeka on the tourist map of the Mediterranean and open the city towards the sea.